WATSipE WEEDS. 106 



lip, and of the four stamens contained within tlie 

 upper hood-like lobe of the corolla (Pig 70), two 

 are long and two short. Lastly, pull out this 

 corolla, which comes away, stamens and all, and 

 you will see, at the bottom of the tube-hke calyx, 

 what look Hke four little square seeds, but which 

 are really four little seed-vessels, each with its, own 

 single seed within. .Go over again these charac- 

 ters of the labiates, and you cannot but see what 



Tig. 70.— Floret of a Labiate plant, a. Stamens contained witlmi upper or 

 hood-like division of the corolla; b, lower lip of^ corolla; c, calyx, which is 

 Blightly irregular. 



strong family features they carry with them. Many, 

 like the mints, thyme, marjoram, and lavender, are 

 characterized by the; abundance of their fragrant 

 essential oils. 



There yet remains for you to examine the holly, 

 the convolvulus (Fig. 71), the sea-thrift, and the 

 plantain. The convolvulus requires no lens to 

 Ijring, out its peculiarities, amid which the plait- 

 ing of the unexpanded corolla is. conspicuous. As 



